Wagner appoints Bayer to city council; vote is questioned

Mayor Ken Wagner appointed political newcomer Robin Bayer to fill the two years remaining on Wagner’s Baldwin City Council position at Monday night’s meeting, but questions have arisen regarding the council vote to approve the appointment.

Although the vote is being questioned Tuesday morning, Bayer was administered the oath of office by City Clerk Darcy Higgins Monday night. However, Council Members Tom Farmer and Mike Magers did not vote for Bayer, but they did not abstain. According to city officials, that means the vote was recorded as 4-0 in favor and can only be changed at the next meeting by correcting the minutes. The Signal has learned since, too, that a third council member was not in favor of the appointment, despite voting for Bayer and could change their vote. Until that next meeting, the appointment will stand.

“I know there is going to be some controversy,” Wagner said Tuesday about the appointment. “I need someone who is strong enough to stand up with me. I should have put the name out there (Monday) night and had it up for a vote in two weeks.”

Bayer was a member of Wagner’s campaign volunteers and went door-to-door seeking votes. He is a computer software architect/consultant who has lived in Baldwin City for almost eight years.

“I’ve had several discussions with Robin over the last two weeks,” said Wagner. “I think he has a good grasp of what is going on in this city. I think Robin has knocked on 85 percent of the doors in Baldwin City and is aware of what’s going on.

“I think he will bring a balance to the council,” he said.

With Bayer’s selection, four of the five council members have never served before. Tom Farmer and Bonnie Plumberg were elected in April along with Wagner. Mike Magers was appointed in January to fill Tony Brown’s term after he resigned to serve as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. Only Ted Brecheisen, Jr., who was elected president of the council at the last meeting, has any experience on the council.

The Signal will update this story as additional information becomes available.

Comments

That is such crap. Did Mr. Bayer stick his neck out on the line and actually run for this position? Ken Wagner should have chosen from the worthy pool of candidates that actually had the nerve to run for the council. One of them came within a handful of votes of taking a spot.

Robin knocked on 85% of the doors in Baldwin for your campaign, so that makes him a good fit? The other candidates knocked on just as many doors, put up the $$, put their names on the line publicly, and endured having their feet put to the fire at the council forum.

In my humble opinion, this is a disgrace. I don't give a sh*t that it's all political and that it's Ken's prerogative. This was a POOR choice all the way around.

Well I see my previous comment was taken down (must be some truth there, eh?)

Anyhow, Bayer is one of those richy-rich people, just like Wagner who IMHO wouldn't know how to work a day in his life. Not surprising that Wagner would try to find one of his wealthy buddies to feather his nest.

Geez, louise! If the man's appointment is accepted, I am willing to give him a chance and see what he can do, but the rest of you sure have a smear campaign going here.

Not surprised about hoosier and fakeghost, who have shown their lack of character so many times that (like boys who cry "wolf"), even when there is a grain of truth in their comments, you don't know whether to trust them or not.

Mr Bayer is unfamiliar to me, so I don't know whether the smears are bad politics, personal vendettas, or based solidly in truth, but I do agree with Cranky that Wagner would have been prudent to choose someone who worked hard for the position and stuck his neck out there in good faith--someone the public voted for. If the council nixes Bayer's appointment, Wagner will have a second chance to do the right thing... Hope he's paying attention, or he may lose a lot of face with those of us who elected him.

The problem here is that the entire country is sick and tired of the usual politicking. So soon out of the chute, it's exasperating to see Ken Wagner just being the same old stuff we see again and again. This appointment of a political buddy shows us exactly what we can expect going forward. It doesn't even matter whether Mr. Bayer would make a great council member. His tie-in to the political campaign makes him suspect. It's like the time W tried to get his personal attorney appointed to the Supreme Court. It's not the kind of action that cultivates trust from your constituents. Might have hoped for better from Mr. Wagner, but not at all surprised to already be disappointed by him.